South African player accused of killing is named

A former South African rugby player has been appeared in court in the Republic accused of hacking three men to death with an axe has been named as Joseph Ntshongwana.

Ntshongwana, who was not asked to plea at the initial hearing, is a former flanker for the Blue Bulls and appeared today at a court in Durban, accused of the killings which are alleged, by local reports, to have been part of a revenge attack for the gang-rape and HIV-infection of his daughter.